Queen Casino and Entertainment Set the Stage for Change: Iowa Embraces Land-Based Gambling as Riverboat Casinos Fade Away. The end of an era for riverboat gaming in Iowa has arrived, as the Casino Queen Marquette secures approval to transition from the waters to solid ground.
You may have heard the news that the Casino Queen Marquette has been given the green light to move from its riverboat onto land in Iowa. For nearly 30 years, riverboat casinos have been the only option for gambling in the Hawkeye State. Now the tide is turning as the regulator realizes these floating casinos are relics of the past. The era of riverboat gaming in Iowa looks like it’s coming to an end.
The Casino Queen has long wanted to move its operations ashore, citing increased operational efficiencies and an improved customer experience without the space constraints of a riverboat. Pending final approvals, they will build a brand new $150 million casino resort in Marquette that will make the current riverboat setup look like small potatoes.
Get ready for Vegas-style gaming right in your own backyard, Iowa. The new casino is expected to open in early 2023, ushering in a new age of Iowa casino gambling on terra firma. While riverboat gaming has been an Iowa institution, progress always comes with change. The riverboats have served us well, but their time has passed. The future is ashore, Iowa, so get ready to roll the dice on solid ground!
The Queen Casino and Entertainment Seeks Permission to Move Ashore
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has given the Casino Queen Marquette permission to move its operations onshore, signaling the end of riverboat gaming in Iowa. For over 30 years, the Queen has welcomed guests aboard its paddlewheel riverboats along the Mississippi River. Now the casino is ready to dock for good.
As one of the first casinos in Iowa, the Queen helped launch the state’s gaming industry. Over time, it became clear that riverboat casinos were at a disadvantage. Limited space meant fewer amenities and game options compared to land-based resorts. Harsh weather often disrupted travel and operations. Moving ashore will allow the Queen to better compete by expanding its offerings.
Once complete, the new 100,000-square-foot casino complex will feature over 1,000 slot machines, poker, and table games, an entertainment venue, a hotel, a spa, and several dining options. The $60 million project is expected to revitalize the area and boost tourism. For loyal guests and employees, it’s the end of an era but the start of an exciting new chapter.
“We’re preserving the nostalgia of riverboat gaming but providing a more modern experience,” says the Queen’s General Manager. “Guests can still enjoy beautiful views of the river, just with enhanced comfort and convenience.”
After receiving approval from the Commission, construction is now underway with an anticipated opening in mid-2022. For all those who’ve enjoyed memories aboard the Queen’s riverboats over the years, the onshore casino promises to be well worth the wait. The reign of Iowa’s riverboat gaming queen may be over, but its legacy lives on.
The End of Riverboat Casinos in Iowa
The end of riverboat casinos may be coming to Iowa sooner than you think. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission recently gave Casino Queen Marquette permission to move its operations onshore. For nearly 30 years, riverboat casinos have been a fixture on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, but many are finding land-based facilities more practical and profitable.
If the Casino Queen’s move is successful, other casino operators may follow suit. After all, land-based casinos have quite a few advantages over their riverboat counterparts. They’re often larger, allowing for more gaming space and amenities like hotels, restaurants, concert venues, and spas. They’re also more stable, so you don’t have to worry about getting seasick at the slots!
Land-based casinos are often cheaper to operate as well since they don’t require costly riverboat equipment and staff. The savings can be passed onto customers through lower prices and better loyalty programs and promotions.
While some may mourn the loss of a nostalgic era, riverboat gaming’s days seem numbered. The Casino Queen’s transition onshore likely signals the first of many Iowa casinos making the move to dry land. Before long, riverboat casinos could become a relic of the past, replaced by large, Vegas-style casino resorts dotting the Iowa landscape. The odds certainly seem stacked in land-based gaming’s favor.
So if you’re a fan of riverboat casinos, you may want to take a final cruise while you still can. The queen of the river could soon become the queen of the shore, and others will likely follow her lead to even bigger and better things.
What This Means for Gambling in Iowa
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission’s decision to allow Casino Queen Marquette to move its operations onshore and build a $90 million land-based casino is a game-changer for gambling in Hawkeye State.
For over 25 years, riverboat casinos have been the only option for gamblers in Iowa. These casinos were required by law to be located along the rivers that border Iowa and remain mobile to qualify as “boats.” Now, the Casino Queen has been given the green light to move its operations off the Mississippi River and onto dry land in Marquette.
This precedent means other riverboat casinos in Iowa may follow suit and apply to relocate their gaming floors onshore. No longer confined to cramped riverboats, land-based casinos can build much larger gaming floors with additional slot machines and table games, and posh amenities like spas, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues. For players, this means more opportunities to gamble, dine, relax, and be entertained without leaving the casino property.
The era of riverboat gaming in Iowa looks like it may be coming to an end. While some may mourn the loss of a quaint era in Iowa’s history, land-based casinos stand to revitalize tourism and pump money into local economies through jobs, tax revenue, and commercial development. For now, all eyes are on the Casino Queen Marquette to see how this gamble on going ashore will pay off. If it proves a success, riverboat casinos across Iowa could head for dry land and usher in a new generation of lavish Las Vegas-style casino resorts.
Conclusion
So there you have it, folks. The era of riverboat gaming in Iowa is coming to an end, but the fun at Casino Queen Marquette is just getting started. No more waiting for the boat to set sail or dealing with the hassles of boarding. Now you can walk right in, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and get right to win. With all the new slots, table games, entertainment venues, dining options, and hotel rooms they’ll have space for on land, this place is about to become a full-on destination resort.
If you’re looking for an exciting getaway close to home, look no further than Casino Queen Marquette. They’re keeping all the thrill of the riverboat experience and adding so much more. All bets are on for this new chapter of gaming and entertainment in Iowa. The riverboats had a great run, but the future is on shore.
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